Crate.



No. 853,065. l PATENTE) MM,V 1907.

Y Aus. cooK.

CRATE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 17, 1906.

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ABNER S. COOK, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. May 7, 1907.

Aimlication filed May 17, 1906. Serial No. 317,407.

T0 a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER S. Cook, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Burlington, in the county of Des 'Moines and State of Iowa, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Crates and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my crate in form for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the crate collapsed. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views showing intermediate steps in folding the crate. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail fragmentary cross-sectional and longitudinal sectional views respectively showing the stop for the crate end. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the lock for the top of the crate.

The invention has relation to folding crates for poultry, fruit, vegetables or other articles, and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate of strong and convenient construction, which can be easily handled in transportation and which can be readily folded to occupy comparatively small space in return transporation to the shipping point.

The bottom a, of the crate, which is designed to be about half as high as it is wide, has a solid base, which is provided with marginal strips b, rising from its sides, the height of said strips being equal to the thickness of the ends c. These ends consist of rectangular frames, which are provided with openwork or wire screen walls, in substantially the manner indicated at d, and the ends are connected to the ends of the bottom a, by hinges e, which are set in from the margins of said ends by a distance which is suflicient to provide a ledge f, for engagement with the ottom edge of the end c, when raised to upright position. When folded down, these ends fold toward each other upon the base, and between the strips b, with the upper edges of which the upper surfaces of said ends in this folded down position are flush, forming an even bearing for the sides g, and 7L, which are designed to be folded thereon.

These sides g, and h, consist of rectangular frames, having open-work or wire screen walls 7c, and they are connected by means of hinges m, to the inside walls of the strips b, the upper edges of which provide abutment edges, or bearings s, for engagement with the bottom edges of said sides. To one of these sides g, is connected, by means of hinges n, the sectional top t, of the crate, said top consisting of two similar rectangular frames and g, which are connected together by means of hinges o, attached to Atheir upper or outer sides, or in such wise that their adj acent edges abut, when the top is unfolded across the crate, in which position the marginal portions of the top respectively engage the upper edges of the sides and ends of the crate.

The hinges n, which connect the top of the sides g, of the crate are also outside hinges, each being attached by one leaf to the outside of the side frame, and by the other to the edge of the top section, or so that the barrel or pivotal portion of the hinge shall be located between the outer upper corner of the side g, and the outer lower corner of the top section p, when the latter is in normal position, forming the cover of the crate. By means of this hinge, which may be, for the purposes of this specification, called a shoulder hinge, the section p, of the top is fitted to lie flush upon the folded side h, of the crate, while the side g, to which it is hinged, is folded in the plane of said side 7i. The section of the top folds back toward the middle of the crate upon the section p, so that the top is of double thickness in the lateral folded position, and a rabbet is provided along one side of the middle of the folded crate, as indicated at z. By means of this provision, the crates can be packed facing each other in folded condition, so that the folded offset top of one crate will'be received in the rabbet z, of the other. The packing will, therefore, be firm and solid, so that the crates will not be injured by casual movement or by pressure of one part upon another.

The ends c, of the crate are prevented from falling inward when in upright position by means of stops u, on the sides g, and h. And the free side 7L, is provided with a catch w, designed to pass through a perforation of the top frame, for securing the top in position upon the crate. This top lock'or fastening also secures the sides in position.

In opening the crate to get at the contents,

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the sectional top provides for a ing, or the top can be folded bac i and its free section turned down to rest on the ground and provide a platform for use in displaying the goods.

Having described the invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A. folding crate consisting of a base, having raised side strips, rectangular ends havin'g an inside hinged connection with said base and l artial openerally projecting stops` adapted to abut against the inner sides of the rectangular ends when upright to prevent inward movement thereof, and a folding rectangular top composed oftwo equal longitudinal sections having an outside hinged connection with each other, one of the longitudinal top sections having aii outside hinged connection with one of the rectangular sides.

In testimony whereof l allix my 4signature in presence of two witnesses.

adapted when upright to abut at their bot- ABNER S COOIQ toins against said base toprevent inward movement thereof, rectangular sides having an inside hinged connection with said raised side strips, said rectangular sides having lat- Witnesses:

P. A. REPPERT, C. H. Moi-ILAND. 

